Looping Sicily problem - what is it?

[Mystery_Dog]

From the Kausfiles weblog column at msn.slate.com:

I’m having e-mail difficulties, apparently due to the feared and loathed MSN “Looping Sicily” problem. If you’ve recently sent hot news tips or pictures of your beautiful girlfriend, please be patient or try sending them again.later[sic] . … If you are Sicilian, I mean no disrespect.

Also from there, later:

I owe the Microsoft Network a bit of an apology. It turns out my email problem was not entirely due to the network’s infamous “Looping Sicily” problem. It was also partly the result of my, er, credit card being declined. A brief call to MSN Billling on Monday and email was restored. (I still have a Sicily, but it no longer loops, if that’s the right way to put it.)

I have absolutely no idea what this means. I’ve never heard of this problem before, and Google doesn’t help. What is the “Looping Sicily” problem, and why is it called that?

[mattgg]

“Looping Sicily” refers to a problem with MSN which repeatedly reauthenticates the user when posting to a news server. It may also happen under other circumstances when using MSN, but I don’t know this for sure.

“Sicily” is either a code name or the actual name of an MSN news server, or is a name for the authentication process. The login dialog box is referred to as the “Sicily Box” by those who have experienced this problem. “Looping Sicily” is when you are stuck in a loop, repeatedly authenticating on/with Sicily.

[Mystery_Dog]

Thank you!